HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL! I hope you rang in the new year safely! And I hope you are looking forward to, and planning for, a successful 2013!  If you have a habit of setting resolutions only to feel defeated when life gets in the way of your dreams,  be sure to check back and follow along as we test some proven tips to make permanent changes. We can walk forward together, supporting one another, confiding in one another, and succeeding TOGETHER.

Here at the network we ended the year on a really high, and crazy, note with the Advent Calendar. This was a last minute idea that we ran with. (hint #1 for 2013 – don’t delay – don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today – STOP PROCRASTINATING and don’t let FEAR win). All in all – despite some missed days – the whole thing was a lot of fun and quite a success!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who generously donated!

We gave away a lot really great items -> tutorials and tangibles, discounts, and deals…….and we met a LOT of new friends!  We gave away over 500 free tutorials graciously donated by Barrie Edwards, Perri Jackson, Cynthia Newcomer Daniel, Dianne Karg Baron, and myself; we gave away over $300 in prizes, and we linked to some awesome free items.

Here is a recap:

• $50 gift card Contenti from Jewelry Artists Network

• Barrie Edwards – Tutorials – http://www.etsy.com/shop/windermeredesigns

• CR Designs Idaho – stone discount – http://www.crdesignsidaho.com/

• Inspiration- http://www.jewelryartistsnetwork.com/index/2012/12/advent-day-4-inspiration-a-challenge/

• Fundametals discount –  http://www.fundametals.net/

• Perri Jackson – Tutorial – http://shaktipajdesigns.com/happy-holidays-advent-calendar-wonderfulness/ – Perri also gave away a HUGE tutorial package. –

• Gem Resources – discount – http://www.gemresources.com

• Free Cuttlefish Casting Tutorial – link – http://www.jewelryartistsnetwork.com/index/2012/12/day-9-something-is-fishy-around-here/

• Giveaway Tutorial – Scenic Pendant – From Doxallo Designs Studio http://www.doxallo.com

• Free Stone setting tutorials – http://www.jewelryartistsnetwork.com/index/2012/12/day-10-stone-setting-more/

• Giveaway beginners soldering set up – http://www.jewelryartistsnetwork.com/index/2012/12/day-11-another-giveaway/

• Free Flexshaft Tutorials/videos and DIY gift tutorials: http://www.jewelryartistsnetwork.com/index/2012/12/day-12-flexshaft-a-detour/

• Fold Forming/Forging Tutorial from Doxallo Designs http://www.doxallo.com

• Prong Ring Tutorial from renowned Wire Jewelry Artist Dianne Karg Baron, Wire Wrapture – http://www.wrapturewirejewellery.on.ca/

• Cynthia Newcome Daniel FREE tutorial – “Catch a falling Star” Cynthia can be found here: Facebook and here Jewelry Tales – http://jewelrytales.com/

• Giveaway Tutorial – Tube Riveting – From Doxallo Designs Studio http://www.doxallo.com

• Favorite things giveaway – http://www.jewelryartistsnetwork.com/index/2012/12/day-21-some-of-my-favorite-things/

• DVD giveway from Barbara Lewis of Painting With Fire – http://paintingwithfireartwear.blogspot.com/2012/12/are-you-ready-to-learn-something-new.html

Although Advent is technically over, we have one last giveaway to announce!

Barbara Lewis is giving away one copy of one of her new DVD’s put out by North Light. Barbara, who is known for making Enameling accessible by sharing her knowledge of torch firing enamels and her successful book, now has two new DVDs due for release any day (you can find them on Amazon soon!)

However, one lucky winner will get their choice of one of the DVDs through Barbara!

There is the Torch-Fired enamel basics DVD
                                                                              
                                                                                                                     
                                       
                                       

OR
                                                
                                                                              
                                       
                                

The Bracelet torch fired enamel techniques DVD
                                                                                                     
                                       
                                       

This giveaway is set up a little differently, you will need to go to Barbara’s blog to participate.
You can find the details here:

Barbara Lewis – Painting with Fire
                                                                                                     
                                       
                                       

Go check it out and GOOD LUCK!
                                                                     
                                       
                                       
Side note: The winner of the “My Favorite things” giveaway will be announced later today. There was a lot of additional tallying to add in the various shares on facebook etc. I’ve almost got everything accounted for!                                                                     
                                       
                                       

Winner!!! Winner!!!

#68 – zoraida, who won with her ‘share’ entry – “Here are my facebook pages I shared this post on both – https://www.facebook.com/zoraida.bros and https://www.facebook.com/artzjewlery”
In her other entry Zoraida said: I love tools and books! I do a lot of hammering and I would love hammer with a small head and fine edge like the bordering hammer. My most useful took is probably my square nose pliers. I couldn’t do my wirework withouth them! I’m sharing this post on facebook.

Today is another giveaway, and its kind of a big one. At least to me.

Today is the ‘some of my favorite things’ giveaway. Not to be confused with Oprah’s favorite things, I can’t even begin to compete with the Queen of…well, so many things….BUT, that doesn’t mean this won’t be an awesome cool, knock your socks off giveaway!

So what ARE some of my favorite things?

Well….tools for one -

like hammers – love my hammers.

I use my Peddinghaus bordering hammer ALL the time.

Oh and my lovely little riffler files…..they are perfect for getting into tight spaces.

Rocks are another favorite thing – in any shape or form!

oh and books, definitely books. I love books.

And there are misc. other little items that make my life in the studio better, like my lovely little retractable sharpie. A silly thing maybe, but oh so nice. And my Xuron shears.

This giveaway will be comprised of a bunch of my favorite things…some, or all, of the above…..maybe some other items as well…..a mystery box chock full of goodies.Who doesn’t like a surprise package of studio stuff?

To enter:

Leave a comment below sharing YOUR favorite studio thing. (whether you own it or use it somewhere else)

For additional entries:

Post a link to this giveaway on your blog or facebook page and then come back here and post a link to your share in the comments below. You may earn an extra entry for each method of sharing.

So in total you have up to 3 entries.

               
Entries close December 25th and a winner will be selected randomly. The winner will be announced here on December 26th by way of update to this post as well as an alert post. We will make one attempt to notify the winner, so please ensure your email address is valid and entered correctly. PLEASE check back to see if you are the winner, if we don’t hear from you within 48 hours we will draw another name.

WINNER – #32:
Kim Anderson says: Love the long dangle earrings in your Victorian Elements tut.

Today’s giveaway comes from Perri Jackson and quite frankly is an AMAZING offering!

Perri has previously given a free tutorial to everyone (THANK YOU!) – it was her Tangled Heart Tutorial. Hopefully you took advantage of that offer. However, if you didn’t, you can enter to win today’s giveaway which is a HUGE tutorial package which will be given FREE to one lucky winner! This package represents over $200.00 dollars in tutorials!!!

To enter, please visit Perri’s Etsy Shop, take a look around and then come back and let us know what your favorite item is in the comments. Entries will be open for 48 hours and the winner will be notified by email so PLEASE make sure you comment with a valid email address so we can contact you and so that Perri can send you the package.

And if you don’t win, please note that Perri has the package on listed in her shop, for a limited time only, for only $47.00 !

comments are now closed. We will pick a winner later today!